A small speaker blared a tinny, scratchy version of Dolly Parton’s “Hard Candy Christmas” as I opened the door to a crowded nail salon. Inside, I was greeted with garish, mismatched holiday decorations haphazardly displayed in a way that looked like the remnants of a giant’s seasonal sneeze.
I’ll confess. The scene didn’t do much for my mood. The holidays are always tough for me, so I decided to treat myself to a pedicure and foot massage, and I planned to choose my usual shade of nail color – a sedate beige.
Call it what you will – the “holiday blues” or “seasonal depression” – but many people may feel less than jolly this time of year. Statistics show that nearly 70% of Americans feel sad at least once between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31.
Perhaps this will be the first Christmas without a loved one. Maybe you are worried about a family member deployed overseas or living too far away to come home for the holidays. Maybe money is tight, and you are worried about how you will pay the bills and buy gifts for your family. Perhaps your children are grown, and you long for the days when you saw the magic of Christmas through their innocent eyes.
Or, perhaps saddest of all, maybe you have an estranged family member with whom you long to reconcile but can’t.
If so, I get you.
Whatever the reason, the holiday blues are real. I’m not qualified to give professional medical advice, so please contact a doctor for help first, but here is one thing that has helped me: Visit a nursing home and spend time with the residents. Sadly, many have family members or friends who can’t – or won’t – visit. Take an inexpensive gift, a plate of cookies, or dress up as an elf. Be goofy, sing Christmas carols, or make a simple craft with them.
The music changed inside the salon to “Jingle Bells.” A little girl in a pink dress got excited and sang along. Her exuberance made her mother smile, which, in turn, made the nail salon employees smile, which, in turn, made me smile. And, suddenly, the decorations didn’t seem so garish; the music less tinny.
It was at that moment that I decided to think about the holidays in a different light.
As I wrap presents this year and start to feel sad, I’ll remember that God wraps His loving arms around me daily and shows me that He is my refuge and strength. (Psalm 46:1)
As I untangle a strand of lights for the umpteenth time, I’ll remember that Jesus is the light that came into a dark world, and if we follow him, we will never walk in darkness. (John 8:12)
As I write out Christmas cards (or compose an email) and struggle with what to say. I’ll remember that I should write the Word of God onto my heart – not written with ink but with the spirit of the living God, and not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:3)
And, when a nail tech asks me what color of polish I want, I’ll say, “Bright, festive red, and oh, can you paint Christmas trees on my big toes?”